GR-ah-Amsterdam

Quote of the trip:

"You know if you just add a G-R it will be Gr-ah Amsterdam."

It was spring break for the family and we decided to take off for the home of art, canals, windmills and the infamous “coffee shops.” Why not go to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. It is the world’s most liberal city and very receptive of we vagabonds.

We started early in the morning with a trip on the high speed ICE (intercity express) train. This is our first long trip on the train. It was long awaited by Graham. We sped along the Rine River and into Holland as day broke. It is a very easy way to go.

Upon reaching Amsterdam and our hotel, we went into the city saw row after row of canals and 5 story canal houses. We walked and used the city tram line to find the Museum Square. Flanked by art galleries and concert halls, it is green lawn of about 4 blocks that included a café and playground. It is a great place to stretch our legs from the crowded city sidewalks.

While on the play ground Tess found a Middle Eastern family to play with. She was able to sucker them into pushing her on the huge swing, and they seemed to take an interest in our little one. With some limited English, They asked if she was from the UK. Tess did not give a good answer and the family continued to swing her and ask questions about the UK. Then they asked her to sing and song. Tess unresponsive till this point sings a song in German, at which point they proclaim "She's Deutch!" Our international kid of mystery left that poor family all confused.

We went to the Van Gogh Museum. Compared to rest of the city it is very modern and open. After a brief moment of protest, we paid Tess off with 25 cents to ride in a stroller, and she was asleep after about an hour. Graham did great and even showed some interest. The Museum showed the great changes that van Gogh made in the course of his ten years of painting, and it was wonderful to see so many of the famous paintings up close.

We chose to explain to Graham that the often present smell of burnt skunk in the city was not tulips, but was pot. Luckily, he was fully against drug use. While curious, we did not stretch our luck with a trip to the Red Light District. We could have pulled off that the ladies in the windows were underwear models, but the trip itself would have knocked us out of the parent of the year running.



On Saturday we took a bus trip out of the city and to the famous Keukenhof Gardens. We saw some of the land that was reclaimed from the sea, windmills, and several tulip fields in bloom. The Gardens themselves were almost in full bloom, and are a sight to the see. The flower beds were laid out in elaborate patterns with a Russian Theme. Of course there are thousands of varieties of tulips on display. Some were taller than the kids with blooms as big as a soft ball. We spent 5 hours walking the paths. There was also a restored windmill that we were able to go into, and the kids found a zip line to ride near a petting zoo.

These trees look like they are upside down! No trip to Kuekenhof is complete without a picture in front of the iconic tulip bulbs and of course wearing a pair fo wooden shoes. Graham and Tess are sitting in the middle of a single tree. We aren't sure what kind of tree it is, but there were several of these.

Angie: I remember a few of these little blue things popping up in my Aunt Kay's front/side yard each year. I always wondered what they were, and there were never this many!

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On Sunday we went to an open air art market, and to the bakery for breakfast on the main shopping street. We walked from open squares and along the canals. This is one of the really bizarre (and funny) street performers that we saw in Dam Square...Is that an awesome mullet or what? Once we moved away from the central Dam Square Area, the city is cleaner and is filled with relaxed cafés and fun shops. Almost everyone speaks perfect English and they are very friendly. The city runs on bicycles so watch out when crossing the street.

In the evening we visited the Anne Frank Hiding Place, it was a moving and informative place. It humanized the cost of the Nazi ideas.


For dinner Angie had been wanting to go to a french fry shop all weekend, and it was great. This shop was called Mannekenpis and had "1e Prijs Beste Frites Van Nederland." I know that a full meal of fries sounds bad, and in the whole picture it is, but they were good. In our defense, we did not know how much we bought until they gave it to us.

We give Grahamsterdam 4 stars.

Our First Fasching

Fasching. I don't really know anything about it, but here is what I have gathered (without googling.) It is like a German Mardi Gras, it seems to go on for about a week on Thursday it was Women's Day, where apparently all of the women all go out partying and if they see a man with a tie on they cut it off. Thursday, Tess came home with her face all done up with paint and sparkles, compliments of one of her teachers, Frau Butz (pronounced boots.)

Friday, her school celebrated with their own Faschingfest! We found out about the party several weeks ago and being the very American parents, her teachers were quick to set us straight. When they told us about the party they explained that it would have a "Magic" theme and she would "dress up as something magical, no cowboys and no pricesses" = Nothing the American's might choose on their own. I gave her the deer in headlights look and she said "Tess will be a fairy." Good I can't mess that up.

Last week was the sign-up for what each person would bring for the party. Since they only speak German at her school, it is a big success if I figure out what we are supposed to be doing. The bulletin board for the parents frequently has signs posted that say "Lieb Eltern," which means "Parents" then a lot of Deutsch that I can't read. So I memorize or jot down what I think the main words are, go home translate the best that I can and then return that afternoon and just ask for clarification. By the time I returned to the sign-up for what to bring , the only opening was for "zwergentoastturmchen" so, I had to go back home and google what the heck that is. The answer: Dwarf Toast Towers. Still clueless, I waited until the next morning when I saw German mother that I knew spoke English too. She explained them as "layers of bread with something between them and then you cut the sides at angles." I just put my name at the bottom next to Eingen Ideen, My own idea.

Since Fasching is kind of like our Halloween in many ways, and Gummies are a big deal here, I thought we could do the Oreo dirt udding with gummy worms burried in it. When Erik asked about bringing something sweet, the language was difficult so he started babbling about desserts and what not. Frau Noori, said "You bring fruit." Errgh. Not what I had in mind. So I decided to do mini fruit pizzas, even though I was very nervous that they would be angry that I sent something so sweet. I was really relieved when Erik said there was a lot of distractions with all of the little fairies and the teachers were dressed as hexen (witches) so the sweet little treats were just slid in.

Fasching will not end until Tuesday, and there will be parades all over! I plan to take the kids to the one downtown Heidelberg on Tuesday, and expect it to be quite the cultural experience.

While I am updating my posts, I want to give everyone an update on our Graham. He has just completed his second full week of 3rd grade. Though he misses his second grade teacher Mrs. Peterson, he really likes his new class and is enjoying Mrs. Williams. He is also adjusting to his new work load and getting caught up with the other 3rd graders with the instruction that is all new to him. Since I have been substituting at the school, I have been lucky enough to get to join him for lunch lately. His evenings are busy with piano, cub scouts and his basketball team, where Erik is his coach. Even with his busy schedule he is working very hard and making us very proud!

We Made it to Germany...Then Stopped Blogging

The whole purpose of our blog was to keep everyone at home up to date on what we are doing. So it is ironic that we finally made the big move, we stopped blogging. So I have been working on my time management and I do have time to blog...I just have to make the time! I have completed (and published) all of the blogs that were drafts just waiting to be published. Now I am going to post our 2009 Family Christmas Letter and start fresh for 2010. So anyone who gave up on our blog, and bothers to randomly check-in and notices that there has been a change, please come back!

Weihnachtsgrüße! Merry Christmas!

We are excited to announce that in July the Hendrickson’s went international and are now serving up good cheer in Heidelberg, Germany. Leaving the sweet tea of Georgia for the bier of Deutschland has had its share of cultural, linguistic and logistical issues, luckily bier costs less than water and is acceptable anytime of day. Everyone agrees the local pastries and chocolate are justification enough for the move, and provide relative compensation for our small military issue apartment. We are enjoying our new home that now includes a carefully selected Tannenbaum from the tree farm.

In reviewing the year we have to take the bitter before the sweet, and mention that in November the Rosenberger Family endured the loss of their beloved patriarch and Angela’s grandfather, Paul. He was a truly wonderful person and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Ethel is in our prayers.

For the sweet, it has been a wonderful year of seeing and doing new things. We made a pilgrimage to the small Georgia towns of Plaines and Warm Springs over Presidents Day. We toured FDR’s Little White House, and heard Jimmy Carter speak about the accomplishments of his presidency. No one in the room had the heart to tell him that his recollection of his time in office was a touch distorted, but Rosalynn did correct him on some of the dates.

Graham and Angela had a full year of their favorite “extreme water sport,” fishing. For Mother’s Day we took a charter off on the coast of South Carolina. Graham caught flounder. His mom found the ugliest fish in the ocean called a clam cracker; it was promptly tossed back. Graham also caught his birthday dinner of 8 trout from a lake east of Heidelberg. True to his fishing form, Erik’s thumb was smashed in the mouth of catfish from a pond in Indiana, but he continues to persevere against his aquatic nemesis and will feebly continue to fish.

Graham attends the American school and loves his teacher Mrs. Peterson. He continues in Cub Scouts, Baseball, and has a new piano teacher, Ms. Corina. With the Scouts, he and Erik spent a weekend on the USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier. The ship was amazing, but the staff denied Erik from the officer’s quarters, and he had a hard time fitting in a sailor’s bunk. We look forward to a scout trip this month to Belgium, where we will see re-enactments of the Battle of the Bulge. He will make his first communion, on Mother’s Day. All of this pales to the excitement over Grandma Suzy’s chickens. He is the “chicken whisperer” and if they wander too far, he asks them “Why did you cross the road?”

Tess is in a German kindergarten where she is picking up some of the language, and making many friends. She was Alice in Wonderland for Halloween, which was celebrated throughout our “gated community” with lots of tasty warm beverages, candy and even a bouncy house! Tess likes being in the children’s choir, dance, and is getting introduced to the piano by Ms. Corina. As we walk Tess to and from schule, she stops to visit the Kaninchengarten, which is a small fenced in yard, belonging to one of our German neighbors with two bunnies.

Angela continues to volunteer, and most recently began helping the Sisters of Charity in Mannheim. She is pursuing a Masters in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma, is the Secretary of the PTA, substitutes, and joined a book club. Last summer she and Erik took part in Brookville’s Canoe Fest, Erik and his partner won the Bank Race. Ang and her friend Randi teamed up, only sharing with the other that neither had ever canoed minutes before the race. Depending on whom you ask, they may have won their race or finished in the top 20. They did great, the official who saved them from a rapid said so!

Erik has a peculiar fear of T’s kindergarten teacher Frau Noori, who is quick to let Erik know if he is even 1 minute late! He ran the Georgia Marathon in the spring, and his Fort Gordon team won the Marine Mud Challenge in the summer. He is a leader with the Cub Scouts. He is currently working with Administrative Law for V Corps, and is the legal officer for the 18th Engineer Brigade, and likes his work.

We wish you all a wonderful holiday and a great year ahead!

Baby Bird Tattoos

A few nights ago, the kids had just gotten out of the bath, and put their pajamas on. We were watching a movie, and looked over to see Tess drawing all over her leg with a purple (not washable) marker. I asked her what she was doing and she told me "drawing on my leg to make it beautiful." I was irritated but curious, so I asked "what could you possibly be putting on your leg to make it more beautiful than it already is?" She explained "a beautiful bird." We do call her "Lady Bird" and "Our Baby Bird" sometimes Grandma Lynn calls her "T Bird" or we shorten it to just "Bird."

None of us have tattoos, it is not something we encourage. So we think we'll just balme Erik's brother Vance.

Munnich

Our first big adventure came just a few weeks after our Jeep arrived. Family travel in our car was a big step for us. We decided to go to Bavaria and check out Munnich and the Neuschwansten Castle. We planned for a few days to make sure out big American Jeep would be able to park and drive in a city. So we went out with some excitment and trepedation.

Then... less than 30 minutes out of Heidelberg there was a stau (traffic jam) on the autobahn and we were rear-ended. After, feeling really awkward trying to learn the how to drive here, the autobahn, teeny tiny parking spaces, low parking garages and zippy little European cars, It made me finally feel good about keeping our big, American car. Tess was way back in the third row, and didn't even know that we were hit! She was safe and we are thankful. Unfortunately for the other driver it smashed in the front of his car. We had been warned that Germans can be pretty irate and crazy when in a car accident. Lucky for us he was pretty mellow. He didn't speak any English and we have a very limited Deutsch vocabulary. With minimal damage to our car we got the gentleman's information and continued on the trip.

When we finally arrived in Munnich, all of our worries about our car being too big were put to rest, when our parking was outside! We were actually staying in a Holiday Inn (because we could book on-line and pay in dollars rather than euro) at the edge of town, but within a quick walk to the train to go into the city and see the sites. The first thing we went to see was Marienplatz, where the town hall stands and we could see this great clock tower! At a certain time each day (which we were there for on one of the days) the chimes toll and then music begins and these figures in the clock move. It was made to celebrate the end of a plague. Below are a few pics of the clock tower and town hall, the one to the far right is Graham at the top!

Just by coincidence, as we were on our way to find the Hofbrau Haus, our kids were distracted by these giant metal lions and started climbing on them. After a minute or two Erik looked over to see two of the people that he worked with at Ft. Gordon, watching their son climb on the same lions! There was a great beer hall, an oompah band, pretzels, gingerbread, food and don't forget the bier!

We did the touristy thing and took a tour on the top of one of the on/off double decker tour buses without a roof. We had an English guide and were able to learn a little about the city, saw Olympic Park, Surfers on the river, and visited the palace. Here is a picture of Erik looking all Rick Steves with his guide book and another one of the children getting along!

The next day we drove through the beautiful Bavarian countryside, saw the Alps in the distance and reached Hoanschwagen and Neuschwanstein Castles.

When Tess saw her walking around on the grounds of Hoanschwagen,

and was sure she was a princess. She wanted to have her picture taken with the princess. As we approached her, it turns out it was the Bavarian Milch Queen. She gave Tess a square of cheese which Tess promptly popped into her mouth and posed for the picture.

King Ludwig, mysteriously died as Neuschwanstein neared completion and the castle became a tourist attraction shortly after. It was not built as a fortress like most castles. The Cinderella Castle is modelled after this one. The King had a very close relationship with Wagner, and many of the rooms follow the storylines of Wagners Operas. Hoanschwagen (the yellow castle) is where Lidwig actually lived most of his life and where he watched Neuschwanstein being built from.

Graham snapped this picture as we were leaving to head back to Heidelberg, we all agreed it was a really good shot!

Household Goods Are Coming Today!!

Our household goods were all packed up in the middle of June. We were promised to see them again by August 13. Lucky for us they are not too far past due. They are scheduled to be delivered (hopefully intact) today. We received a message from transportation on our answering machine last Thursday, and got back to them first thing Friday morning to confirm delivery for Monday. Unfortunately, for some strange reason the housing office was not open (or not responding to emails and phone calls) on Friday. So now we are scrambling to get a hold of them to schedule the earliest possible pick-up of our temporary furniture. It will be a very tight fit to squeeze our regular belongings into our teensy-weensy apartment with this stuff. I will add more as I get time as to the progress of our day.

Hairdryer?

This happened awhile ago, but I am just now getting around to adding the picture:

I did not move my hairdryer or curling iron because I didn't know if they would work in the outlets here. Besides my hairdryer (which was a really nice one that I have loved for several years) was beginning to die and would only work on low. I knew I would get a new one when we got here so I just trudged on with it the last few months. During our stay in Indiana I wore my hair in a ponytail most of the time, or borrowed my Mother's dryer.

Now we are in Army lodging and there is this beige machine on the wall, with a long tube. Erik told me it is a hairdryer. So this morning when he left I decided to give it a try.

Verdict: Yes, it is a hairdryer. It works fine if you are in a pinch (like I was) but not something I would purchase. The long hose piece gets very hot and I would have to stop drying every few minutes so I could cool it down.